Humility... Holiness...

Happy Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

These Princes of the Apostles are dear to my heart as is the city "washed in their blood" - Rome.

O Roma felix, quæ duorum Principum. Es consecrata glorioso ceteras. Horum cruore purpurata ceteras. Excellis orbis una pulchritudines :: :: :: O happy Rome! Who in thy martyr princes’ blood, A twofold stream, art washed and doubly sanctified. All earthly beauty thou alone outshinest far, Empurpled by their ourpoured life-blood’s glorious tide.

Today is a big day for my fathers! My dear father, Paul, was born today 55 years ago and my Holy Father, Pope Benedict, was ordained a priest today 60 years ago. Needless to say, I love them both.

I owe my life to these men - the Princes, the Holy Father, my father.

Our Lord “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men…He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:7-8) and these men follow Him, yoked to Jesus and His humble obedience. They have chosen self-denial, they have laid down their lives for His sake. They model a simple humility that is the gateway to LIFE. Let us follow our Lord and his humble servants and give our own lives without reservation to the Source of Life itself.